Sharon Matthews DiMaria

Sharon Matthews DiMaria

August 9, 1946-

October 8, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sharon Matthews DiMaria, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, poet, artist, and inveterate cat lover. Sharon passed away quietly, at home, with her husband at her side.

She was born in Fayette, Missouri to parents Herbert and Mary Matthews, and moved to New Mexico at the age of two. She grew up in

Albuquerque and graduated from Manzano High School in 1964, later earning a Masters degree in English. She taught English, creative writing, and poetry at TVI and UNM throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1988 she met Sal, her beloved husband of 36 years. She moved to Athens, Georgia with Sal where she taught English at the university of Georgia for two years as Sal pursued graduate studies. They moved back to Albuquerque where Sharon taught at UNM and for a time was Coordinator of Tutorial Services at UNM's Valencia Campus. From 2000 to 2017 she and Sal lived in Frederick and Clarksburg, Maryland as Sal taught geography at Montgomery College. They moved back to Albuquerque in 2017 where she lived the rest of her life.

Sharon was plagued with arthritis for much of her later life, needing a wheelchair for many years. Nevertheless, that didn't stop her from enjoying many lunches out with her friends Barbara and Bob Muller, occasions she greatly looked forward to. She and Barbara would also have long, happy phone dates, usually every week. Though mostly homebound, she enjoyed being with her cats, watching birds in her back yard, and looking forward to her favorite Christmas movies during the holidays. She enjoyed watching many shows on PBS, including dramas, nature documentaries, and cooking and travel shows. She was an excellent cook, enjoying making her enchiladas, posole, and many other dishes. She was a crafter and painter as well, turning out her "feline" versions of the Mona Lisa and other classic works. She was active in local poetry circles for many years, publishing a collection of poetry in 1988.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, brother Stephen and sister Sheila, her cousin Jan Heidi, and by her cats, including Pola, Baby Kitty, Frumkin, and Fanny. She is survived by husband Sal, son Joel Myers, daughter-in-law Talisa, granddaughters Kenzie and Kylie, nieces Cari, Susan, and Maggie, nephew Corey, and several cousins.

Sharon was wonderfully cared for by many doctors over the years, especially by her primary physician Dr. V. Ianakieva of Presbyterian Family Practice. The family would also like to thank the nurses and doctors at Presbyterian Hospital and the staff of Gentiva Hospice for their kind care of Sharon in her final weeks.